1st Team All Pro - LB Fred Warner

Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

The big 3rd down ply where Warner was patient and let Hurts run to him was such a vet move.

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:
I'm talking about energy wise.... theres some games hes all over the field and hyped up as hell. He seemed pretty quiet and didn't really show much emotions like he usually does especially in such a big game.

Lol

Originally posted by BYisGod:
Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

I'm one of the biggest patrick willis fans of all time. He's not only a phenomenal player, but he is also a phenomenal human. He only deserves love from us fans and it broke my heart when he retired. With that said, the gap is closer than you think. Willis is a generational athlete at the position. He could've thrived today with he speed and his tackling. But Warner is honestly one of the smartest linebackers I've ever seen. He reacts to everything so quickly, he rarely misses tackles, he can lay the boom, and you can trust him guarding receivers cause he is also soo good at coverage. Warner has a shot at winning DPOY this year if he can make some crazy plays to end the year, and if he does that and gets a ring, he would be my number 1 LB in 49er history.

Originally posted by JMC52:
The big 3rd down ply where Warner was patient and let Hurts run to him was such a vet move.

Ya I noticed that too, Fred didn't bite on his janky ass juke

Originally posted by BYisGod:
Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

I've been hard on him as well, especially after he got his big contract and seemed to put it in cruise control. He's playing like an absolute mad man this season, defensive player of the year candidate.

Originally posted by illinois9er:

Originally posted by DRCHOWDER:
I'm talking about energy wise.... theres some games hes all over the field and hyped up as hell. He seemed pretty quiet and didn't really show much emotions like he usually does especially in such a big game.

Come on man lol

lol wut, when hes like what I described in the past our defense plays with much more speed and energy since he is the leader of the defense...

Originally posted by BYisGod:
Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

it is like comparing CBs and Safeties they were used in very different ways.

I also agree that Willis was the better player....but they can't do what each other can do... Willis can't cover like Warner and Warner is not the impact player that Willis was.

Willis had 8 ints, 53 pass defenses, 16 forced fumbles, 20 sacks and 60 tackles for loss in 112 games....that is a TON of impact plays.

Warner has 7 ints, 43 pass defenses, 10 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in 93 games.....

and we all know Willis was a tackle machine 950 versus 474

It is very easy to love Warner, and root for his great play....and we sure hope for a much longer career...but pound for pound during the short time the NFL had Willis the dude was a monster.

Originally posted by Dshearn:

Originally posted by BYisGod:
Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

it is like comparing CBs and Safeties they were used in very different ways.

I also agree that Willis was the better player....but they can't do what each other can do... Willis can't cover like Warner and Warner is not the impact player that Willis was.

Willis had 8 ints, 53 pass defenses, 16 forced fumbles, 20 sacks and 60 tackles for loss in 112 games....that is a TON of impact plays.

Warner has 7 ints, 43 pass defenses, 10 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in 93 games.....

and we all know Willis was a tackle machine 950 versus 474

It is very easy to love Warner, and root for his great play....and we sure hope for a much longer career...but pound for pound during the short time the NFL had Willis the dude was a monster.

As much as I love Fred, I love Patrick Willis more, Loved the pick when we made it, and he proved it, I can't remember if he's gotten into the HOF yet, but he deserves it, played I think 1 less season than Calvin Johnson, and Calvin made it first time.

I'm the biggest Fred on here, so before some nerd responds defending Fred as if I'm attacking him, I'm not. That said, if Fred was a better against the run(ie smelling out plays, fitting runs quicker and getting into the backfield for more tfls, getting off blocks a little better, etc.), he'd basically be a better version of Luke Kuechly. Not saying that Fred is bad against the run because he clearly isn't, but that's the area he could improve the most. IMO, he's already the best cover LB ever.

Originally posted by DonnieDarko:

Originally posted by JMC52:
The big 3rd down ply where Warner was patient and let Hurts run to him was such a vet move.

Ya I noticed that too, Fred didn't bite on his janky ass juke

textbook tackle! that was also the tackle where hurts got hurt

Originally posted by AB81Rules:

Originally posted by Dshearn:

Originally posted by BYisGod:
Dropping in to say that I've been hard on Warner throughout this career, and while I still don't think he's the linebacker that Willis was, there's no doubt that Warner is a world-class player and the heartbeat of the defense. Love this guy.

it is like comparing CBs and Safeties they were used in very different ways.

I also agree that Willis was the better player....but they can't do what each other can do... Willis can't cover like Warner and Warner is not the impact player that Willis was.

Willis had 8 ints, 53 pass defenses, 16 forced fumbles, 20 sacks and 60 tackles for loss in 112 games....that is a TON of impact plays.

Warner has 7 ints, 43 pass defenses, 10 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in 93 games.....

and we all know Willis was a tackle machine 950 versus 474

It is very easy to love Warner, and root for his great play....and we sure hope for a much longer career...but pound for pound during the short time the NFL had Willis the dude was a monster.

As much as I love Fred, I love Patrick Willis more, Loved the pick when we made it, and he proved it, I can't remember if he's gotten into the HOF yet, but he deserves it, played I think 1 less season than Calvin Johnson, and Calvin made it first time.

Personally, I prefer Patrick Willis because he felt like a more sure tackler than Fred. But different defensive schemes, and our defenses asked different things of them. Patrick Willis was good at everything and rarely ever missed a tackle.

Meanwhile, Fred Warner will occasionally miss a tackle, but honestly... he's the ideal linebacker in today's NFL, being the absolute superstar he is in coverage. Given how badly we saw Shanahan abuse the Eagles linebackers, I think it shows the importance of linebacker coverage in the crucial middle of the field. Announcers regularly highlight Fred being near the LOS, and then sprinting back to cover the deep middle and keeping up with WR's.

Originally posted by Heroism:
I'm the biggest Fred on here, so before some nerd responds defending Fred as if I'm attacking him, I'm not. That said, if Fred was a better against the run(ie smelling out plays, fitting runs quicker and getting into the backfield for more tfls, getting off blocks a little better, etc.), he'd basically be a better version of Luke Kuechly. Not saying that Fred is bad against the run because he clearly isn't, but that's the area he could improve the most. IMO, he's already the best cover LB ever.

He can track down RBs side to side, but stacking and shedding isn't his strength. But that's the trade off for him being so agile and rangy as a cover LB. Honestly, I would not trade more run defense for less cover ability for Warner. If the 49ers need more beef to defend the run between the tackles, then get better DTs.

Originally posted by thl408:
He can track down RBs side to side, but stacking and shedding isn't his strength. But that's the trade off for him being so agile and rangy as a cover LB. Honestly, I would not trade more run defense for less cover ability for Warner. If the 49ers need more beef to defend the run between the tackles, then get better DTs.

Oh, I agree. I wouldn't trade off any of his coverage ability for more run defense. I was just analyzing Fred overall as a LB since the topic of Pat Willis vs Fred came up.